Today we are going to talk about the uses and structure of present continuous. We are going to focus on when to use this tense when we speak.
Remember that if you do not know how to form the present continuous please review the BASIC LESSON #8 HERE

Structure (Present Continuous / Present Progressive)

The present continuous is formed with the verb to be in the present (am/is/are) plus the “-ing” (present participle) form like in the following model

SUBJECT + (to be + -ing ) +COMPLEMENT

Examples:
– Malissa is looking for an apartment.
– Claudio isn’t studying.
– Maria is staying at the Marriot Hotel.

We DO NOT use auxiliaries do/does or don’t/doesn’t because we are using the verb to be.

Exercises :

Fill in the blanks with the present continuous verbs of the verbs in parenthesis

A: So what is happening (happen)? Are they having (they/have) a party?
B: Yes, they are
A: And what _______________________ (they/do)?
B: Well, a few of them _______________________ (dance).
A: ______________________________ (Mom and Dad/dance)?
B: Mom is but Dad _______________________ (talk) to uncle Jack and they _______________________ (laugh) a lot.
A: Is Aunty Linda there?
B: Yes she ____. She _______________________ with Brian from next door. Oh, and Dad _______________________ (give) everyone a drink now.
A: What _______________________ (they/drink)?
B: Coffee, I think. And some of them _______________________ (drink) juice. Mom _______________________ (not/drink) anything.
A: _______________________ (they/eat)?
B: Only crisps and nuts and some cheese.
A: And we _______________________ (not/eat) anything. It’s not fair!
B: But they think we _______________________ (sleep) upstairs.
A: Oh no, they don’t. They _______________________ (look) this way. I think Dad _______________________ (come) over here.